The effects of varied cutting density on vegetatif and generatif characteristics of different graminae forages under the Çukurova conditions

This research was carried out to determine varied cutting densities (10, 20 and 30 days) on some vegetatif and generatif characteristics of three different graminae forages [phalaris (Phalaris tuberosa L.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.)] at the Çukurova Universty, Agricultural Faculty, Field Crops Department Research and Implementation Area in 2001. At the end of the research, the highest green herb yield (5794.68 kg/da), hay yield (1450.41 kg/da) and crude protein content (% 23.71) were obtained from smooth bromegrass. The green herb yield (5200.98 kg/da), hay yield (1215.08 kg/da) and crude protein content (% 18.50) values of phalaris were similar to smooth bromegrass, but the lowest values were obtained from tall fescue. The green herb yield, hay yield and crude protein content of tall fescue were 2683.24 kg/da, 702.76 kg/da %15.80, respectively. Although the green herb and hay yields were not affected from cutting densities, the crude protein contents were decreased by increased cutting densities. The crude protein contents were % 20.97, 19.45 ve 17.59 for increasing cutting densities (10, 20 and 30 days), respectively. As a result, being advance smooth bromegrass, all of the graminae forages studied can be easily cultivated under the Çukurova conditions. The crude protein contents were decreased by increasing cutting densities, but taken into consideration of harvest expenses, the optimum cutting density should be resulted as 20 days. Key Words: Graminae forages, cutting density, herb yield, crude protein content n